Restriction Modification

Restriction enzymes or endonucleases recognize and cut DNA at a specific sequence. These enzymes occur naturally in bacteria as a defense against bacteriophages - viruses that infect bacteria. Bacterial restriction enzymes cut the invading bacteriophage DNA while leaving the bacterial genomic DNA unharmed due to addition of methyl groups. This video explains the basic principles of restriction enzymes including: how restriction enzymes are named and the types of recognition sites and...

The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression. Acetylation The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...

DNA Isolation ExpandNOTE: In this experiment you will perform DNA isolation under two experimental conditions: one using a buffer containing the detergent SDS and one without detergent. Hypotheses: The alternate hypothesis for this experiment might be that the sample prepared without SDS, a strong anionic detergent that breaks apart cell membranes, will yield less DNA than the sample prepared with SDS. The null hypothesis for this experiment might be that both samples will yield an equal amount...

The revelation of DNA as the hereditary molecule in all organisms has led to enormous scientific and medical breakthroughs and significantly enhanced our understanding of ourselves and other organisms. DNA isolation and profiling have been the fundamental first steps for many of the advancements in the past century; from identification of gene function, to revolutions of agriculture and forensics. Isolating DNA from Cells DNA isolation is a fairly simple procedure that requires few but...

Restriction enzymes are bacterial enzymes used to cut DNA in a sequence-specific manner. To cleave DNA, they bind to specific palindromic sequences called restriction sites. Such palindromic DNA sequences or inverted repeats are commonly found in regions of functional significance, such as the origin of replication, gene operator sites, and regions containing transcription termination signals. The host bacteria protect their own genomic DNA from these enzymes by methylating these sites. Some...